Thomas
Because no Licenced Aircraft Engineers were positioned at those outstations, no opportunity was available for that defect to be investigated further. Most Ground Engineers should have manufacturers servicing information such as Aircraft Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts Catalogs, Fault Isolation Manuals, Wiring Diagrams etc at their disposal. Not to mention larger organisations with Maintrol support.
A quick ground test found that flap system 'serviceable'. So, why the recurrences at altitude then? How often was the defect going to exist for had the landing incident not occurred? A sheared flexi-drive? It is/was a known problem with CRJs. A qualified B1 Licenced Engineer (possibly with experience/info of that 'known problem') should have been dispatched to that aircraft to investigate that defect. At first instance preferably!
Please put all defects in the Technical Log. They will be addressed by a suitably qualified Licenced Aircraft Engineer. This is not about pure job preservation.. So, why compromise?
BAe